Clamp for holding plate-glass.



PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

S. W. HARPER.

CLAMP FOR HOLDING PLATE GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT UEEmE.

CLAMP FOR HOLDING PLATE-GLASS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. '759,608, dated May 10,1904.

Application filed September 28,1908- Serial No. 174,910. (No model.)

To all w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL HARPER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, resid ing at Carnegie, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inClamps for Holding Plate-Glass, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in clampsfor holding plate-glass, and it relates more particularly to that formof clamp which is employed for the joints between plate-glass ofshow-win (lows, show-cases, and the like; and the primary object of thepresent invention is to provide means for the secure clamping andholding of the plates, while at the same time permitting the movement ofthe plates in the clamp to such an extent as to prevent the breaking ofthe plates in event of any undue strain being brought to bear on saidplates.

Briefly described, the invention comprises a main clamp embodying twoarms integral with each other and extending at substantially rightangles to each other and each of which arms are recessed on their innerfaces and receive in said recessed faces a movable slide which engageswith the glass to hold the latter firmly under normal conditions,

but which permits the glass to move under abnormal condition. Aconnecting-bolt is affixed at its one end to the main clamp and at itsother end receives the inside clamp or fastener adapted to engage theinner faces of the glass plates and which is held firmly thereagainst bya nut threaded onto the shank of the connecting-bolt or by otherapproved securing means.

The construction and details entering into my invention will behereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out intheclaims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and whereinlike numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of the outside main clampor fastener, the movable slides, and the securing means therefor, theparts being shown disassembled. Fig. 2 is a detached detail perspectiveview of the connecting-bolt and the inside fastener or clamp. Fig. 3 isa horizontal sectional view of the outside fastener or main clamp,showing in dotted lines the manner in which the movable slide may moveon its pivot or fulcrum. Fig. i is a horizontal sectional view of theoutside fastener or main clamp and themovable slide locked in position,one arm of the clamp being broken away. Fig. 5 is a sectional view oftwo glass plates, showing my improved fastener in position thereon inplan view. Fig. 6 is a disassembled plan View of the parts, 5 showing amodified form of construction. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectionalview of a part of the outside fastener or main clamp.

My improved clamp involves a main memher or outside fastening comprisinga body portion 1, with two right-angular-extending arms 2 to embraceglass plates 3, placed at right angles to each other, as seen in Fig. 5.Although I have herein shown a form of c011- struction in which the twoarms are at direct right angles to each other to conform -to glassplates so placed, yet I do not wish to be understood as confining myselfto this particnlar shape or construction, as it will be evident thatthese arms may have any desired angle as may be desired or required,according to the position in which they are to be used. These arms areprovided on their inner faces with recesses or pockets 4, extending forthe major portion of the length of the arms,-but closed at the ends, andeach arm is provided with openings 5 6, preferably threaded, to receivesecuring-screws for a purpose as will more presently appear. In 9connection with this main member or outside fastening I employ on eacharm 2 a movable slide 7, provided with a longitudinal slot 8, and on itsface which engages the glass pro vided near one end with a projection10, adapted to seat in a recess provided therefor in the glass plate, asseen in Fig. 5. The outer face (or face adjacent the glass plate) isalso beveled or countersunk around the slot 8, as shown at 9, thereby toreceive the head I00 of the screw 11, which passes through the slot8 andengages in opening 5. In case I desire to lock the movable slide orslide member 7 rigid with the arm 2 I push the slide or slide memberback against the stop or shoulder 12 of the body portion 1 and employ anadditional screw 14 to lock the slide or slide member rigid with thearm, as seen in Fig. 4c of the drawings. However, it is frequentlydesirable to provide for a slight movement of the glass in order toprevent the breaking of the same, and especially is this true inconnection with the windows of buildings, such as show-windows, and moreparticularly windows in newly-erected buildings, where, owing to thesettling of the building, it is a frequent occurrence for theplate-glass to be cracked by the pressure brought thereagainst by thesettling of the building. It is for this purpose that I provide themovable slide members 7, which are fixed to the glass plate only bytheir projection 10, and conse quently the plate 3 may move verticallyin either direction, the screw 11 actingas a fulcrum for the movableslide member, the latter, however, still retaining its grip on the glassplate. The extent of this swinging movement that may be imparted to themovable slide member is fully illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 3,wherein the movable slide member is shown in the dotted position atright angles to the arm 2. It isfor the purpose of decreasing thefriction between the movable slide member 7 and the arm 2 that 1 recessthe latter, as it will be observed that the only point of frictionbetween these two members is the small surface on the one face of thearms 2 and a corresponding width of surface on the engaging face of themovable slide member. The main member or outside fastener is bound tothe glass plates 3 by an inside fastener embodying a body portion 15 andtwo angularly-disposed arms 16, the angle of which arms with respect tothe body portion depends on the angle at which the glass plates are setthat are to be held. The body 15 has an opening therethrough to receivethe shank 17 of the connecting-bolt 18, the latter being provided withan oblong head 19 to be, received in the groove 20, provided therefor inthe body 1 of the main member or outside fastener. This bolt, as in theusual practice, is flattened adjacent the head, whereby to occupy butcomparatively small space, being of a width, however, to retain therequired strength. The shank 17 is threaded to receive the securing-nut21, that holds the inside fastener in firm engagement with the glassplates 3.

I prefer to construct the oblong head 19 with an expanded head 19, whichseats in a countersink 20 in the body 1, and I also provide acountersink 20 at the lower end of groove 20, and after member 19 isslipped into groove 20 extending end 19 of member 19 is then riveted incountersink 20, so as to securely fasten the connecting-bolt to theoutside fastener in such a manner as to permit lateral movement of thebolt, but prevent vertical movement thereof, and thereby prevent thedisconnection of the inside and outside fasteners in event of verticalmovement of the plate-glass occurring. \Vhile I prefer to rivet theconnection as above described, it will be evident that a nut could beplaced on end 19, which would fasten the connecting-bolt to the body,and thus prevent vertical movement of the members independently.

In Fig. 6 I show a slightly-modified form of construction, in which theconnecting-bolt 18 is formed integral with the body 1 of the main memberor outside fastener, the body 15 of the inside fastener having its arm16 provided with projections 17 to be seated in the inner face of theglass plates 3. The nut 21 holds the inside fastener in this form upagainst the glass plates in the same manner as in theprior-describedconstruction. \Vhile shown integral, yet it will beobserved that .by riveting the end of the bolt to the body, as

in the construction shown in Fig. 1, the lateral movementof the boltwill be attained, but same will be held against vertical movement assecurely as though formed integral. This form of fastener holds theplates rigid, and plates 1 may be secured to the inner faces of the arm2, or the inner faces of the arms may engage direct with theplate-glass, and said inner faces or the slides 4, if the latter beemployed, may or may not be provided with projections 10 to engage inthe outer face of the glass plates 8. Generally, however, I will employthese projections on the main member or outside fastener and also on theinside fastener in this form of construction, though the projections maybe omitted on the inside fastener.

I desire to call particular attention to the construction embodying themovable member or slide, wherein by the hollowing out or recessing ofthe arms 2 the friction between these arms and the movable member orslide is reduced to a minimum, so that in case any undue strain isbrought to bear on the glass the latter. will be permitted to movesufficiently .to be relieved from such strain, and thereby preventedfrom breaking under the strain. Then, as in the case recited relative tonew buildings settling, it will be observed that after the building hassettled the movable member or slide being adjustable it may be movedback on the arm 2 and permanently fastened, as seen in Fig. 4:.

WVhile I have herein shown and described a practical embodiment of myinvention as it has been practiced by me, yet it will be evident that inconstruction various changes may be made in minor parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A clamp for plate-glass, comprising an outside fastener havingsingularly-disposed arms, movable slide members connected to said arms,and means for rigidly securing the slide members to the arms, incombination with an inside fastener, and means for connecting the insidefastener to the outside fastener.

2. In a clamp for plate-glass, a fastener embodying arms disposed at anangle to each other, slide members adapted to engage the plate -glassand movably connected to said arms, and meansfor securing the slidemembers rigid with the arms.

3. A clamp for plate-glass, comprising a main member or outside fastenerhaving angularly-disposed arms, recessed on their inner faces, movableslide members pivoted to the recessed faces and engaging only theunrecessed portions of the recessed faces, said slide members extendingbeyond the outer ends of the arms, and studs carried by said slidemembers, an inside clamp member or fastener, and means for connectingthe outside fastener to the inside fastener.

4. A clamp for plateglass, comprising a main member havingsingularly-disposed arms provided with recesses on their inner faces,slide members secured to the recessed faces of said arms and infrictional engagement with the unrecessed portions only of said recessedfaces, studs carried by said slide members near their outer ends, aninside fastener, and means for connecting the inside fastener to themain member.

5. A clamp for plate-glass comprising an outside fastener havingangularly-disposed arms recessed on their inner faces, slide memberssecured to the arms and having frictional contact only with the portionsof the inner faces of the arms surrounding the recesses, studs carriedby said slide members to engage the plate-glass, means for locking theslide members rigid with the arms, an inside fastener, and means forconnecting the inside fastener and the outside fastener together.

6. A clamp for plate-glass comprising an outside fastener havingangularly-disposed arms, slide members adapted to engage the glass andmovably connected to the arms, means for securing the slide membersrigid with the arms, an inside fastener, and a conmeeting-bolt securingthe two fasteners, and movable laterally independently of the outsidefastener but held against vertical movement independent of saidfastener.

7. A clamp for plate-glass comprising an outside fastener havingangularly-disposed arms provided with recessed inner faces, slot tedslide members secured to the recessed faces of said arms andfrictionally engaging only the portions of the faces surrounding therecesses, said slide members adapted to engage With the plate-glass, aninside fastener, and means for connecting the inside fastener to theoutside fastener.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

SAMUEL W. HARPER.

Witnesses:

H. (J. EVERT, A. M. WILsoN.

